Choosing the wrong ‘generals’ can lose GMA the ‘war’

Yesterday’s banner headline in this newspaper was off-tangent, and apparently an effort by one of our editors to be pa-cute. It proclaimed: "DENR CHIEF ON THE WAY OUT."

In truth, Environment Secretary Mike Defensor might be on his "way out" of his DENR post, but is on the way IN to Malacañang. To be at the elbow of any President is to wield power. Even in the royal and imperial courts of old Europe, even the Court Jester was given due deference because he had the ear of the Monarch and Reigning Majesty, not just the court’s Rasputin.

The fact is that Secretary Defensor, one of the original "Spice Boys" in Congress, has always been La Gloria’s gofer, dogsbody, frequently spokesman, trouble-shooter and shock absorber, one wonders if he really had time to run the DENR or rule on environmental issues, other than exchanging barbed words with the likes of Senator Jamby Madrigal, and other opposition types. "Defensor" de la Presidenta has always been his mission, sometimes mission incredible.

Becoming Presidential Chief of Staff, replacing ex-Secretary Rigoberto "Bobbi" Tiglao, now confirmed as our new Ambassador to Athens, merely confirms Mike in what he has long been doing. As for Bobbi Tiglao, an experienced former journalist and ex-bureau chief here of the now-defunct Far Eastern Economic Review, many of his friends have been congratulating him for his "escape" from Malacañang and his coming stint in Greece. In the shadow of the ruins of the Parthenon, Tiglao will be able to discourse more cordially with the shades of Plato, Aristotle, Sappho and Euripides, than any kind of shallow discourse he might have engaged in within that Palace of petty Byzantine intrigue which is Malacañang. He might have exclaimed in exasperation, "It’s all Greek to me!" Bon voyage, Bobbi, to the homeland of Ulysees!

* * *

There’s already too much speculation about the shape of the coming Cabinet "revamp" which appears more like the usual game of Musical Chairs than any purge or reform.

A dismaying rumor, probably planted by himself, is that Rep. Ronnie Puno may get the post of Secretary of Interior and Local Government now being held by DILG Secretary (and former AFP Chief of Staff) Angelo T. Reyes. If you’ll recall, Ronnie Puno previously held that very same DILG post in the Cabinet of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada – and his stint there didn’t seem to have done much good, either for Erap or in terms of police performance, or, with regard to local government. What was there to boast of during that period? By coincidence, Ronnie bought himself a splendid new mansion – probably from his savings, etc. Oh well. By way of word association, perhaps unfairly, the names "Sulo Hotel" operation, and "Byron Hotel" operation, tend to surface, giving the wrong impression that his training is in the field of hotel and restaurant operation, not propaganda, et al.

I guess the man to ask is the gentleman currently Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Secretary Angie Reyes himself. Was Reyes really "offered" the Ambassadorship to Washington, so he would relinquish the vital DILG post and give way to Puno? The snappy developments in the arrest of the principal suspects in the cruel murder of Pasay RTC Judge Henrick Gingoyon – including the hitman responsible for his assassination and "hits" on other victims – are clear proof that being Interior and Local Governments "boss" is more vital and far more powerful than gussying oneself up in "smoking" jacket or tux, and attending diplomatic and even White House dinners in the District of Columbia and Old Foggy Bottom. Crossing swords with killers, hijackers, kidnappers, druglords and criminals is more essential for our nation’s welfare than clinking Champagne glasses in the United States or the United Nations. If Reyes is seduced into preferring such a job, then too bad.

The final question would, of course, be: Why in hell would GMA want to gift Puno with such an important, do-or-die job? What we need at the trigger is not some glib spin-doctor but a dead-shot. You don’t fight crime or set local government in order by razzle-dazzle, screening things out by smoke-screen, or applying cosmetics and computer wizardry to the existing messy situation.

Anyway, DILG Secretary Reyes will be our guest speaker on Tuesday night at the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) dinner forum in the Grand Ballroom of the Inter-Continental Hotel, Makati. Unless GMA has made any precipitate announcements before then, this will be a good time to pop the question at him.

As for this one on the very important DILG posting and the rest of the Cabinet "revamp", we hope that the President remembers what America’s great President (in war and peace) Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in the midst of war, on January 29, 1944 – not too long before he died in office, serving his fourth term at the helm of an embattled nation. In a radio address, he asserted: " . . . There is a subtle weapon that, more than anything else, spells victory or defeat. That weapon is morale – the morale of a people who know they are fighting ‘the good fight.’ "

How can we win our own battle for redemption when, in the midst of cynicism, disappointment, and near-despair, our national morale still afloat, but tenuous, we realize that, in the choice of her own generals, our President is not even putting up a good fight? This nation’s survival – and progress – is, axiomatically, far more important than the political survival of any leader, and a President who’s much to be grateful for, despite her mistakes, sins, and shortcomings, surely must understand that. GMA "thanks" God for her still being President, after being stormed at with shot and shell: She must demonstrate this gratitude, as well, to our people for despite their awful dismay, continuing to uphold her and entrusting to her still-uncertain hands their precarious present, their future, and their hopes and dreams.

* * *

Somewhere on page one you’ll read about our PEOPLE ASIA Magazine awards gala dinner in the Makati Shangri-la Hotel tomorrow (Monday) night. The Rizal Ballroom will be the venue for this big gathering. This magazine published by STARGATE, this newspaper’s "sister" company, has been an outstanding success in its first five years of operation. But enough of vain self-congratulation!

The vice-president of marketing of Philippine Airlines, Mr. Felix "Bong" Cruz Jr., called, my other publishing company, Eastgate (which does Mabuhay magazine for PAL), where I am also Chairman and Publisher, to congratulate us for a job well done with our December issue. It turns out that when Bong took a PAL flight to Beijing last month, he noticed that there were very few Mabuhay magazines left in the passenger seat pockets and so he investigated and learned from the crew that the passengers were merrily taking Mabuhay magazine home with them. That’s how well-appreciated Mabuhay magazine has become. Passengers grab it, while advertisers now go direct to our Eastgate office to book their ads. If you get hold of our thick December 2005 issue, you’ll see 200 glossy pages are crammed with great travel features and more than 60 ads including a two-page cover gatefold ad of Shang properties and a 6-page ad of Landco. As always, Mabuhay shows the world and strives to remind ourselves how talented we Filipinos are and how blessed we are with many unique attractions.

For instance, our December issue highlighted the talent of Filipino painter, Manny Baldemor, who has had the distinct honor of having his works chosen by UNICEF for their Christmas cards for an unbroken record of 15 consecutive years. The same issue contains excellent photographs taken by two generations of photographers, namely: George Tapan (a collection of travel images) and his son, Harvey, who took the captivating photos that accompanied our feature on El Nido entitled "In Nature’s Nest" written by our staff writer, May Martinez. The same issue presents a varied travel collection from the rugged poetry of Batanes written by accomplished writer, Liz Reyes, to the hidden charms of Iloilo done by award-winning photojournalist Lester Ledesma. Then there’s a lovely piece unveiling the beauty of the country’s youngest province – Sarangani, whose young governor, Miguel Dominguez, is the son of former presidential adviser, Paul Dominguez.

Then our prolific international contributor, Cynthia Rosenfield, breezily wrote about the latest glamorous, hot spots in Shanghai, San Francisco, New York, and even, Honolulu. Believe me, I personally checked out the places that Rosenfeld wrote about Beijing (Mabuhay magazine November 2005 issue) and they were really great, and it is no surprise that Rosenfeld, a Yale graduate, also writes regularly for Time and Conde Nast Traveler magazines.

We have been publishing Mabuhay magazine for PAL for almost 18 years and not many know that prior to us, Mabuhay was being published by MPH, a Singaporean group. The PAL president at that time, Dante Santos contacted me and said: "Hey Max, why don’t you bid for the contract to publish Mabuhay magazine". And I said of course, why not? After all, why should a foreign group publish our in-flight magazine when we Filipinos have enough excellent writers, artists, and photographers. And so I gathered my old Sunburst magazine team – Dopy Doplon and George Tapan and added a few more like Bobby Sanchez and Doreen Yu, and we started cracking. The rest as they say, is history and Mabuhay magazine has garnered several local and international awards (even besting regional in-flight magazines) thanks to a fine succession of editors: Bobby Sanchez, Doreen Yu, Tish Tunay, Ces Mauricio, Tina Mauricio, Marita Nuque, Joanne Ramirez, and since 2000, the present Editor in Chief, Jun Ventura, my business partner and who has been my company president since the beginning.

I am proud of Mabuhay magazine and prouder still that it promotes of what is good and outstanding about Filipinos and our country.

The January issue, despite the first month of the year traditionally being a slack season for advertising, is also thick – and in PAL’s passenger seats on time. It carries such offerings as a piece of Siargao ("More Than Surfing"); Ho Chi Minh City’s "Hot Spots"; Soulful Seoul; Beguiling Kyoto; and the $4 Billion Ropongi Hills; plus what to do in 48 Hours in Brunei.

Truth to tell, from my own experience, with no desire to offend, after the first two days in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), I asked myself in perplexity: What next? I hope I don’t sound like a tourist tout, but in this month’s edition, Mabuhay tells you what.

The latest wrinkle is that I’ve been conferring with PAL President Jim Bautista, and with PAL Chairman Lucio Tan (who I saw at his balae, MetroBank’s Taipan George Ty’s party the other day) about publishing Mabuhay also as travel and leisure magazine to be sold in the newsstands.

Who sez publishing is not the best of "investments" in our country? In The Philippine STAR, we’re happily in the profit ledger. In PEOPLE ASIA Magazine, we’re thankfully on a roll.

In Mabuhay Magazine, what can I say but thank God, and exclaim: Mabuhay! I though I’d conclude this Sunday piece on a Feel Good note – even if it’s to pat ourselves (selfishly) on the back. Proudly Pinoy, that’s us. Even if I’m an Ilocano.